Science generally can learn from what we have learned about the experimenter effect. This includes drug companies, where there are big questions regarding some of their research!

I believe Parapsychology makes a valuable contribution to Science as it looks at some of the difficult and interesting questions other areas of science may find too embarrassing to take on.

The very nature of science is that it requires objectivity in order to come to any conclusion. Parapsychology is based wholly upon circumstantial evidecnce and is non-falsifiable, thus is, in its very nature, unscientific. Difficulty and interestingness do not figure as variables. Science doesn't study lots of things that are difficult and interesting - literature, mythology and so on. Science doesn't study them because they do not contribute to science. Likewise, parapsychology is an interesting distraction but should exist independently of science.

The issues it deals with are not recognised by most scientists. Research money should not be wasted here.

Whilst people experience continue to have unusual experiences, especially ones that have a degree of constancy, it is important that they are investigated to gain a better understanding of what is happening.

The argument has been made that the types of unusual subjects covered by parapsychology are things of the past and that we should have grown up and moved on! Whilst this may sound great I don’t agree, as what’s regarded as unusual can be very culturally specific. Whilst there may be some subjects on the fringe that may seem ridiculous (still doesn’t mean the subjects should not be studied) others are much more grey areas - i.e. the study of Near Death experiences. It was not that long in the past when this subject would have been totally ridiculed, now whilst there are varying interpretations of the experiences, it is accepted as a genuine area of research and acknowledged as a part of the package of human experiences. This can be of comfort to people who have these experiences, and I would say preferable to implying they are mad or were high on drugs! There must be a lesson here regarding the way we study other unusual experiences.

Money could be spent on other areas of recognised science

The issues it deals with are not recognised by most scientists. Research money should not be wasted here.

It's easy to become stuck, hoping to prove something just because we want to!